“Thank you for coming, Mama. You didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to support you.” There was something more under her statement, an earnestness he hadn’t heard from Marianne before.
The emcee’s voice boomed. “And now, let’s put our hands together in a warm Wishful welcome for the first of your final competitors! Team Wishful Nursery and Garden Center—Tyler Edison and Cam Crawford performing their freestyle.”
“You should find your seats,” Corinne said.
“Good luck, Mommy!”
Her dimple flashed. “Thanks baby.”
“Good luck. Both of you.” With one last look, Marianne herded her grandson away.
Tucker laced his fingers through Corinne’s as they moved to watch Cam and Tucker’s performance. “Okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just ready to do this.”
The music poured out and their friends leapt into motion. The routine was fast and flashy—at least on Tyler’s part. Tucker and Corinne hadn’t had time to put together anything so complex, so Tucker made the choice to play their audience. The crowd had followed their love story from the beginning, so he’d designed a routine to showcase it and tug on the heartstrings of anyone watching. If they won tonight, it was more likely to be from an influx of popular votes rather than the judges decision. Either way, he figured he owed Norah one for giving him the opportunity to woo Corinne in the first place.
The number ended to cheers and wolf whistles. Tyler and Cam moved toward the dais, awaiting the judges’ decisions. After some discussion among themselves, they lifted their paddles. Ten. Nine. Ten.
“Tough scores to beat,” Corinne observed.
“It ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings. Besides, it doesn’t matter if we win.”
Her brows arched up in surprise.
“The fundraiser was a success, and we got each other out of the deal. Those are both wins in my book.”
Corinne rose to her toes and brushed a kiss over his mouth. “That’s sweet and noble, but the difference is, I’m in the mood to kick a little ass.”
He was still laughing as they got the signal to take their positions. She shrugged out of the cloak to reveal her costume, a long, glittering gold confection that was Babette’s modernized take on Belle to his Beast. They walked out on the floor with the lights lowered. Before they snapped up, he pressed a kiss to her hand. “In case I haven’t mentioned it, you’re gorgeous.”
Her face glowed with a smile as the lights came up and the music started. Tucker pulled her in, sliding into the dance and into their own little world. No crowd, no competition, only the woman he loved. The dance was part waltz, part foxtrot, all love story. When the final bars played, he eased her into a dip and pressed his lips to hers.
The applause apparently went on for a bit before he registered the sound.
Corinne was laughing as he pulled her vertical. “Nice improv.”
“I enjoyed it.” Grinning, they made their way to the judges dais.
Almost before they’d stopped, the paddles came up. Nine. Ten. Ten.
“A tie, ladies and gentlemen! That means the final results are up to you voters here and at home. Audience members will find a ballot card at your seat. Our ushers will be collecting them shortly. At home you can go online and vote for the next half hour.” He gave the web address for voting. “While we await the exciting conclusion of Dancing With Wishful, let’s review some of the highlights from the competition.”
Everybody converged as soon as they left the floor.
“The Disney vote? Come on!” Tyler complained.
“Hey, no rule against it,” Tucker argued. “And we’ve been pulling the nostalgia thread from day one.”
“And rocking it,” Piper observed. “Nicely done.” Her gaze slid up and down Corinne. “Not gonna lie. I’m having some dress envy right now.”
Corinne laughed. “I admit, I’ll be sad to give it back. What girl didn’t want to be Belle?”
“You make a pretty princess, Mommy!”
Tucker snagged Kurt and scooped him up before he could leap into Corinne’s arms and muss her costume. “She does, doesn’t she?”